Last-cord fastener.



P. H. & T. A. H IGKMAN & J. F. PELL.

LAST CORD FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1908.

Patented July 20, 1909.

ANDREW. a. GRANAM 00., Puom-Llmoumvuzss. WASHINGTON. n. a

., rrnn ,sTA Es PATEN OFFICE.

PATRICK H. HIOKMAN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THOMAS'A. HIOKMAN, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND JOHN F. PELL, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

LAST-CORD FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1909.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PATRICK H. HICK- MAN, .THOMAS A. I-IIOKMAN, andJOHN F. PELL, citizens of the United States, and resi dents of Newark,Brooklyn, and Newark, in the counties of Essex, Kings, and Essex, andStates of New Jersey, New York, and New Jersey, respectively, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Last-Cord Fasteners, ofwhich the following is a speciillustrate the inventionFigure 1 is a sideelevation of a last. Figs. 2 and 3 are elevatlons on an enlarged scaleof different forms of fasteners. Flg. 4 is an elevation on an enlargedscale of a modified form of fastener,

and a section of part of the last showing the said fastener driven intoplace. Fig. 5 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of a fastener andcontained cord.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the last as generally made, comprising the bodyand instep block 11 removably secured thereto,

and a cord 12 attached to both. In the present method of fastening thesecords, holes are first drilled into the top of the last 10 and block 11,and the glue covered ends of the cord 12 then inserted into these holes,and the same further fastened by driving a nail through the side of thelast and block and into said cord. It is, however, a difficult matter toalways properly locate the cord after it is inserted; and thus the nail,

when driven in, frequently does not properly find the said cord which istherefore not securely held. Also, in driving in the nails, the lastoften splits; and as this is done when the last is in finishedcondition, it becomes a very serious matter. The nails, also, work loosein many cases and cause injury to the lining of the shoe fitted to thelast. The fastening device for attaching the cord to lastinstep blockherein set forth overcomes these objections and securely holds the cordto the said last and block. These fastening devices 13 are shown invarious forms in Figs. 2 and 5 and effectively prevent the last 10 andblock 11 from becoming separated; but the cord 12 is provided withsufiicient slack to permit the said block to be slipped from off thesaid last when desired. This cord serves further as a means for pullingthe last out of a shoe fitted about it; and also as a handle by whichthe last may be grasped when stored among a number of lasts. It ispreferably made of various colors, each color designating a particularwidth of last according to a prearranged code. Where a large number oflasts are stored, the projecting cord or handle will thus readily serveto distinguish the various widths, so that the desired last may bereadily and quickly selected.

The fastening device 13 for the cord is shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 5and consists of a metallic tube split along one side throughout itslength, being parted at 14, to permit the cord 12 to be readily insertedtherein. This cord passes substantially through the entire length of thetube, and is held therein by being secured to the ferrule 15, Fig. 2 orby pinching the said tube in several places as at 16, Fig. 5.

The lower portion of the tube is cut entirely through, leaving a spaceor cut 17 dividing the said portions into two vertical halves whichpossess sufficient elasticity to spring out and hold the tubes firmlyagainst the sides of the holes 18, previously ,drilled into the lasts 10and block 11, and adapted to receive the said tubes. The tubes may bedriven in in any convenient manner as by means of a suitable driver, andare flared slightly at the top to avoid cutting of the cord. To morepositively insure the said tube against withdrawal, I provide theferrule 15, Fig. 2, which will spread the sides of the tube 13 outwardlywhen the cord is drawn up; or I may corrugate or thread the lowerportion of the tube as shown in Fig. 8; or, the said tube may beprovided with a shoulder 19 adapted to lock the tube by springing outinto the counterbored portion 20 of the hole 18, Fig. 4.

The tube as well as the cord it contains will thus be securely heldwithin the last and the block, and cannot be withdrawn under ordinaryconditions, thus preventing the separation of the instep block from itscorresponding last. By providing cords of different colors, as setforth, a very convenient means is afforded for quickly and readilyselecting the desired last from among a mum; ber of lasts. There is alsono danger of splitting the lasts when they are in finished condition asthe cord may be fastened to the last before the same is finished and thefastening devices are, further, not in a position such as would be,likely to cause injury to the linings of the shoes fitted about the saidlasts.

I claim 1. A cord holder for lasts, comprising a tubular bodysurrounding the end of said cord, and its lower portion being adapted tospring out to cause said device to be securely held Within the last.

2. A cord holder for lasts, comprising a tubular. body surrounding theend of said cord, said body being split longitudinally along one sidethrough its entire length and along the opposite side at the lowerportion only.

3. A cord holder for lasts, comprising a tubular body surrounding theend of said cord, said body being split longitudinally along one sidethrough its entire length and alongthe opposite side at the lowerportion only, and locking means at said lower portion.

Signed at Newark in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey this28rd day of Apr, A. I). 1908.

PATRICK H. I-IICKMAN. THOMAS A. HICKMAN. JOHN F. PELL.

Witnesses FREDK F. SOHUETZ, H. D. CARPENTER.

